The marquee grouping at the U.S. Senior Open included Fred Couples, Tom Watson and that Other Guy.

But that guy is one of us.

First, look at his bag. Yes, those are Lions head covers. Doug Snoap loves the Lions.

Now, look at his pants. Those are brand-new khakis. Snoap bought four pairs a few days ago. Because he needs them for work. As a computer programmer.

"His old work clothes were getting outdated," said his wife, Kathleen Antonio. "I'm just so happy for him, so excited for him to be playing here."

Snoap, who grew up in Grand Rapids and now lives in Florida, was invited to play in his first Champions Tour event when Nick Price had to drop out.

But Snoap has a story that is bigger than golf. Snoap, an amateur, was representing everybody from Michigan who has been laid off.

He was representing everybody who plays mainly on the weekends and then goes home and watches golf on television, dreaming of playing with the big boys.

And he was representing everybody who has ever had a ball hit a cart path and watched that stinking ball jump high into the air, over the trees and out of bounds. Ouch!

But we'll get to that in a second.

Couples has won more than $26 million in his career. Watson has won more than $23 million.

Meanwhile, Snoap worked for IBM in middle management for 27 years. Two years ago, he got laid off. Snoap took a few months off to work on his golf game, trying to earn a card onto the tour.

"He didn't make it," his wife said. "He said, 'OK. It's time for me to start looking for a job. I tried but didn't quite make it.' "

About a year and a half ago, Snoap landed a job working for Hilton as a computer programmer. He doesn't have any vacation time left, so when he was asked to play in this tournament, Snoap he had to take four days off. Without pay.

"He's pretty busy at work and hasn't been playing as much as he would like," his wife said. "That's why this is so shocking to make it."

At times, it seemed as if half of Lake Orion was following this threesome around the Indianwood Golf and Country Club.

Couples put the non in nonchalant. Through the first six holes, he had two birdies, two bogies and at least six yawns.

He is still a fan favorite, especially with female fans, although some might have a few wrinkles now.

Watson was all business. He was drenched with sweat after hitting balls on the range and he was even after the first nine holes.

Snoap was followed around the course by five family members, four of whom wore bright green T-shirts.

After nine holes, that fan club had grown to dozens of strangers. It seemed as if everybody was rooting for this amateur, who used a belly putter and was hanging with the big dogs.

"Good shot," Watson said.

Snoap birdied the 18th hole -- the ninth hole of the day for him -- and he was even at the turn.

"After the first nine, I felt like I was going to be able to compete with them all day," Snoap said. "But then it unraveled. I don't know how to explain it, other than, I'm a computer programmer."

Ah, yes, how do we describe the final nine holes?

It was as if Stephen King took over the script.

On his 10th hole of the day, Snoap hit a cart path and the ball bounced out of bounds. "That kind of unraveled my round," he said.

He hit into a bunker, then hit into another bunker, then hit his ball over the green.

"Oh," his wife moaned. "Dougie!"

Bogey. Double bogey. Bogey.

"The wheels kind of fell off," Watson said, describing Snoap's round. "He struggled. But tomorrow, maybe it will be a better day for him."

Couples, who was playing with a sore wrist and finished two-over par, has seen it happen to countless golfers.

"When you start going that way and you're not used to doing this, it doesn't take much to start bogeying holes," Couples said. "He was solid ... but tomorrow, he'll come out, and I'm sure he'll have a good round. He's a good player."

After the round, Snoap found his family.

He embraced his wife, upset that he finished 11-over par. "I'm so proud," she said.

Everybody gathered around. His mom. And cousin. And friends.

"You did great."

"We are proud of you."

"You'll be better tomorrow."

Doug Snoap is just your typical computer programmer, who got the break of a lifetime.

And wants it to last forever.

"I'm going to enjoy it ... no matter what I shoot," Snoap said. "So that's my deal. I'm here, and you can't kick me out until I'm done."